Mobile building structure



y 4, 1956 H. SICKEL 2,755,517

MOBILE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed March 25, 19s: 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1

F 45 d 48 c Fig. 3

36 'III'IIIIl Fig. 4 5

INVENTOR Helmut Sickel July 24, 1956 slcKEL 2,755,517

MOBILE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed March 23, 1951 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR He/mut .Sickel MOBILE BUILDING STRUCTURE Helmut-Sickel, Leipzig, Germany Application March 23, 1951, Serial No. 217,098

8 Claims. (Cl. 20--2) The present invention relates generally to temporarily erected building structures such as pavilions for exhibitions, sale stands, shelters, dwellings or the like; and particularly to such building structures which are readily transportable.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a transportable building structure which can be easily erected within a very short time and which .alfords a large enclosed space suitable for lodging or working purpose, for use as a pavilion for an exhibition, an auxiliary hospital, conference rooms, sale rooms and many other purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide construction elements carried by vehicles which can be arranged in proper relation to be fitted together for erecting the building structure in which each vehicle supplies the construction elements for a certain section thereof.

Other objects and features reside in novel mounting means, in combination of parts, in folding and packing facilities for the construction elements for transportation, and other improvements which will become apparent, to those skilled in the art, from reading of the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is an end elevation of a vehicle for constructing one sector of a polygonal building; the left-hand side of the wagon is shown with the construction elements in position as packed for travelling; and the right-hand side, with those elements in place as part of a building structure to be erected;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a structure comprising six such wagons in radial arrangement;

Fig. 3 isa plan view of a similar arrangement as shown in Fig. 2, in which several erection stages are indicated;

Fig. 4 is a vertical middle-section through a radial arrangement with six wagons;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail at the jointof two abutting roof sectors;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of two wagons placed in position with part of the construction elements swung out ready for the erection of a building structure;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the same wagons as shown in Fig. 6, after completion of the sections .of the structure whose construction elements are mounted on and carried by these two wagons.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. l is anend elevation of a vehicle for constructing one sector of a transportable building structure shown in the following figures. The vehicle or wagon has the appearance ofa box car or moving van. Upon a wheel base or chassis 1 with platform 2 is mounted the superstructure or trestle 4 with roof 3. To both of the longitudinal side walls -of-the superstructure -i are attached wall plates 6 which pivot aboutvertical posts at the corners of platform 2 by means of hinges 5. Thus the wall plates 6 may be-folded 2,755,517 Patented July 24, 1956 out substantially rectangularly to said walls and ,in these positions form walls of the structure to be erected (see right-hand side of Fig. 1). The outer extremities of wall plates 6 may be connected to the outer extremities of similar plates of an adjacent wagon and may be fastened to suitable anchorages, binding posts, or the like. The plates 6 may consist of light frames covered on one or on both sides with impregnated fabric, plastic material, aluminum sheeting, or the like. Pivotally secured to the lower edges of the wall plates 6 are base plates 7 which may be unfolded to suspenddownward and close the space between the wall plates and the ground. Cover plates 8 are linked to the edges of the platform 2 of the wagon and cover the chassis when unfolded to suspend downward, this in connection with cover plates like cover plates 8 being hinged to the edges of the platform 2 at the front and at the rear side of the wagon.

Hinged to each longitudinal edge of roof 3 is a roofing extension plate 16 with a pivotally attached triangular roofing extension plate 18. They are folded up and suspend downward fromthe edges of roof 3 of the boxcar during transportation (see left-hand side of Fig. 1). When expanded they form the roofing extensions of an erected structure and bear upon the upper edge of side walls 6 being suitably fastened thereto. Further roofing extension plates (not shown in Fig. l and described in connection with the following figures, are hinged to the front edge of roof 3.

To facilitate adjustment and leveling of the wagons for erection, their pneumatic wheels carry outwardly projecting rims 39 suitable for bearing on rails 43. These rails slope gradually wedge-like to the ground level at one or both of their ends in order that the wagon may be easily pushed onto the rails, thereby ascending and raising at the same time the tires off the ground. Distance pieces 44 hold the rails in proper position and form in combination with them a base structureor foundation resting on the ground and carrying a flooring 45.

The layout of Fig. 2 shows that the employment of six wagons F of the type shown in Fig. 1 allows the erection of an impressive hexagonal pavilion. The six wagons F are placed in symmetrical radial arrangement, around a common center which is also the center point of the area upon which the building has to be erected. The side-wall plates 6 on each wagon F are used to erect the outside walls surrounding the hexagonal buildingstructure. The outer extremities of the used side-wall plates ,6 of adjacent wagons F are joined to form the six outer edges of the hexagons. Each wagon F suppliesan, equal hare of roofing extension material for the vbuildingstructure. One sector thereof, belonging toone wagon F, is shown on the right-hand side of Fig. 2. The roof of the wagon F is seen enlarged by the already mentioned roofing extension plates 16 with pivotally attached triangular roofing extension plates 18 and furthermore by roofing extension plates 17, hinged to the wagon roof edge facing the center of the common buildingstructt re, and provided with pivotally attached triangular roofing extension plates at their outerextre nities.

To facilitate leveling and locating the several wagons in proper relation to each other, it is advisable to place the wagon F on rails which are secured to each other by distance pieces forming in combination with the railsa base or foundation system on which the wagons are blocked in proper position, similar as described in connection with Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents the same embodiment of the,invention as Fig. 2, showing, however, several stagesofa progressive construction throughout the six fields alto f.

3 rails 43 with appertaining distance pieces 44 forming the foundation system which has, if necessary, been leveled out by insertion of blocks or shims. In field b, a wagon F has been moved in place on the rail track. It will be noted that on its roof a slidable carrier arm 46 and four hinged carrier arms 47 and 48 are still in their retracted position occupied during travel. In field c, floor plates 45 have been disposed upon the foundation system 44, and the carrier arms 46, 47, 48 are moved into the supporting positions. In field a, the roofing extension plates 16 and 17 and the thereto hinged triangular roofing ex tension plates 18 and 18 (Fig. 2) have been raised in place and have been connected to the carrier arms 46, 47 and 48. The fields e and 1 show another supporting arrangement without employing the carrier arms 46, 47 and 48. The extended roofing extension plates 16, 18 are in this modification supported by traverses 19 arranged below them and fastened with their ends to the superstructures of adjacent wagons F in any known manner. The roofing extension plates 17 and roofing extension flaps 18, forming the center portion of the entire roof of the building, rest on radially arranged supports 56 which, preferably, are joined at the center point of the roof.

Sloping of the entire roof of the building from the center point toward all six outer sides of the hexagon is achieved by correspondingly tilting the roofs 3 of the superstructures 4 of the wagons. For that purpose, said roofs are pivotally mounted about a horizontal trans verse axis and may be titlted upward and supported in such position by supporting means 36, as indicated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail at the joint of two abutting roof extension portions 16 between two adjacent wagons. joint serves as a gutter and takes up small inaccuracies in adjustment of the two adjoining roofing extension portions belonging to diiferent wagons. To assure a rainproof joint under all circumstances, it is advisable to provide the adjoining edges of said roofing extension portions with downward angled rims projecting into the U-channel 21, as may clearly be seen in the Figure 5. This figure shows simultaneously how, when employing the supporting arrangement demonstrated in fields e and f of Fig. 3, traverses 19 support, by means of suitable distance pieces 20, said U-channel 21 and the roofing extenion plates resting thereupon.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of two of the described six wagons placed in position and shown shortly after beginning of erection of the building, while the perspective view of Fig. 7 shows the state after construction of the building. The part of the building shown consists of elements belonging to these two wagons and is an interior view of this part of the building structure. The chassis with wheels is, in this preferred embodiment, preferably covered with the described plates 8, and also the superstructure 4 may be covered by suitable cover plates, in this way hiding the wagons entirely as can be seen in Fig. 7. Inbuilt show cases 50 are indicated which may be shaped to be suitable as seats within the wagon during travel (see also Fig. 1). It will be understood that other forms of superstructure may be applied for the wagons or that the same may be glassed to be used as a large display box. The roofing extension plates 18 and 18 lie securely protected behind plates 16 and 17 during travel and may be glassed to serve as roof lights in the erected building structure. An anchor or post to which the outer free ends of the wall plates 6 of two adjacent wagons are secured is indicated at Fig. 6.

A center post 42 serves for the erection of the inner pyramidally domed portion of the entire roof of the building. This post may be removed after fastening, connecting, and supporting means of the center portion of the .roof have been applied and may be used again to facilitate dismantling of the roof structure. Hoisting ropes for A U-channel 21 arranged beneath said 4 raising roofing extension plates and other parts may be conveniently guided over rolls fastened to the top of said post 42 also.

It is to be understood that the superstructure 4, carrying the construction elements, may be detachably mounted on chassis and wheel base of the wagon or vehicle and that said superstructure may be transferred and mounted on other suitable substructures or bases at the place of erection, thus relieving the wagon wheel base or chassis and making it available for other uses as long as the building tructure remains installed. Such method makes it possible to move several buildings with one set of vehicles. These supporting means may be movably attached at the superstructure of the vehicle and made adjustable so as to lift the superstructure after its removing from the chassis in order to relieve the chassis from the superstructure and the building parts.

To provide for day-light inside the rooms, roof plates or side plates or both may be fitted with suitable glassed window openings and the side walls may be provided with doors as desirable.

It is to be understood that the terms vehicle and Wagon as applied throughout the entire specification is intended to include all kinds of vehicles, or conveyances moving on wheels, whatsoever.

While my invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment and modification, there is still no doubt that other constructions, arrangements, and changes of parts will occur to those skilled in the art. For that reason, I desire to have it understood that the described embodiment is only illustrative and not restrictive and that the appended claims are to be construed as broadly as permissible.

What I claim is:

1. For constructing a transportable building having a multi-sided pyramidal roof comprising a number of sectors each with an adjacent vertical wall, a vehicle including a platform, a superstructure including at least two vertical edges joined by a horizontal upper edge on said platform, a rectangular roof plate pivotally connected at its one edge to said horizontal edge, wall plates hingedly connected respectively to said vertical edges, a wall base plate hinged to the bottom edge of each of said wall plates, a roofing extension plate hingedly connected to each of the three remaining edges of said roof plate, triangular roofing extension plates hingedly connected to said roofing extension plates, means for holding said roofing extension plates and their respective triangular roofing extension plates extended into a common plane to form a sector of the roof of the building, and means for holding said wall plates and their wall base plates in a common plane to form the adjacent vertical wall.

2. For constructing a transportable building having a multi-sided pyramidal roof comprising a number of sectors each with an adjacent vertical wall, a wheeled vehicle including a platform, a superstructure including at least an elongated rectangular roof and an end wall constructed on said platform, a wall plate hingedly connected to the respective vertical edges of said end wall, a wall base plate hinged to the bottom edge of each of said wall plates, a roofing extension plate hingedly connected to longer edges of said rectangular roof and also to the edge thereof remote from said end wall, triangular roofing extension plates hingedly connected to said extension roofing plates, means for holding said roofing extension plates and their respective triangular roofing extension plates extended to lie in the plane of said elongated rectangular roof, and means for holding said wall plates and their respective wall base plates in the plane of said end wall.

3. A wheeled vehicle as claimed in claim 2, including a plate hingedly connected to each edge of said platform to swing down to conceal the wheels of said vehicle.

4. For constructing a transportable building having a solid pyramidal roof of substantially polygonal shape,

composed of triangular roof sectors, a vehicle having an undercarriage with wheels, a platform on said vehicle, a superstructure including at least two vertical edges joined by a horizontal upper edge on said platform, a rectangular roof plate tiltably connected at its one edge to said horizontal edge, roofing extension plates hinged to the three free edges of said tiltable roof plate, triangular roofing extension plates hinged to said roofing extension plates, means for sustaining said tiltable roof plate at an angle to the horizontal, and supporting members movably secured to said tiltable roof plate for holding said roofing extension plates and said triangular roofing extension plates extended to lie in the plane of said tilted roof plate to form a triangular sector of the roof of the building.

5. For constructing a transportable building having a solid pyramidal roof of substantially polygonal shape, composed of triangular roof sectors each with an adjacent vertical wall, a vehicle having an undercarriage with wheels, a platform on said vehicle, a superstructure upon said platform, a rectangular roof plate tiltably mounted about a horizontal transverse axis at one end of said superstructure, wall plates hinged to the vertical edges of the same end of said superstructure, wall base plates hinged to the bottom edges of said wall plates, roofing extension plates hinged to the three free edges of said tiltable roof plate, triangular roofing extension plates hinged to said roofing extension plates, means for sustaining said tiltable roof plate at an angle to the horizontal, supporting members movably secured to said tiltable roof plate for holding said roofing extension plates and said triangular roofing extension plates extended to lie in the plane of said tilted roof plate to form a triangular sector of the roof of the building, and means 6 for holding said Wall plates and their Wall base plates in a common plane to form the adjacent vertical wall.

6. A mobile building structure constructed of a plurality of the vehicles claimed in claim 1 with the said vehicles arranged to extend lengthwise on equally spaced imaginary radial lines from the center of the building, including means interconnecting the edges of the roof sectors of adjacent vehicles.

7. A mobile building structure constructed of a plurality of the vehicles claimed in claim 5 with the said vehicles positioned with their wheels on rail tracks radially arranged in equal spacing from the center of the erection area, including means interconnecting the edges of the roof sectors of adjacent vehicles.

8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5, in which said Wheels are fitted with pneumatic tires to serve during transport, and additionally with flanges to serve during erection of the building.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 559,966 Bierstadt May 12, 1896 732,847 Grant July 7, 1903 862,573 Mears et al. Aug. 6, 1907 954,305 Kimbell Apr. 5, 1910 1,156,693 Koger Oct. 12, 1915 1,417,736 Heygate May 30, 1922 1,436,984 Follett Nov. 28, 1922 1,912,502 Stotzer et al June 6, 1933 2,155,876 Stout Apr. 25, 1939 2,440,449 Raemer Apr. 27, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 753 Great Britain of 1882 

